The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-23
Civil service wranglers.


Civil Service Commissioners Edgerton
and Oberly are having a rather lively dis
cussion in the newspapers relative to the
proper Interpretation to be given to part
Of the civil service law. There has been
for some time doubt whether these gen
tlemen are wholly fitted for the responsible
and delicate positions which they occupy.
The course they are pursuing now in at
lacking each other in the public prints is
calculated TO do tie cause of civil service
reform incalculable harm. The satisfac-
ton which the enemies of the reform OK
hibit at the spectacle presented by the con-
tentjous commissioners shows how ready
they are TO utilize anything that is calcu-
lated to bring it into disrepute. If the com
missioners have differences with re-
spect to the law, with the administrator
Of which they are entrusted, they
ought 60 settle them quietly. II they cannot
do so they ought to resign and let their
places be filled by those who can. Their
whole purpose should be to promote the re-
form, ana they should be willing to make
almost any sacrifice rather than injure it.
The reform is one that for its success, re-
quires the exercise of the highest intelli-
gence, the best judgment and the greatest
patience 1t was inaugurated because the
people saw the necessity for it. The danger
and abuses of the spoils system alarmed
them. 1t is not difficult matter, however,
10 make them believe that the civil service
law is impracticable and there is no better
way 10 encourage such belief than for
those who are clothed with authority to adj
minister it to engage in quarrels in the
newspapers about its meaning.
Commissioner Oberly is apparently too
radical in his Interpretation of the law. and
Commissioner Edgerton too conservative
The former says that the Democratic party
will accept his Interpretation Of it in less
than year. That is an admission that he
is a sort of an experimenter andis trying to
lead the party. He is much too small a
politician, and too insignificant an official,
for such role If he is in doubt about
the meaning of any part of the law he should
be guided by what appears to be the senti-
ment of the people.
Commissioner Edgerton seems inclined
to interpret the law in a way that will meet
the approval of that class of polite ans who
shout for civil service reform, and at the
same time insist upon making the offices a
reward for party services. He is making a
mistake, for an Interpretation of that
kind will do as much to damage civil ser
vice reform as the radical and unauthorized
Interpretation of Commissioner Oberly.
The trouble began with a letter from
Commissioner Oberly to an Illinois associa-
ton of Democrats who are employed in the
departments at Washington. He, in effect,
told the association that its organization
was illegal, if its purpose was to render any
assistance to its party in Illinois The next
thing he did was to make a ruling that no
one who was connected with any committee
or club, whose object was to assist politi-
cal party, could be member of civil
service examining board. Commissioner
Edgerton does not approve of the letter or
the ruling, and he has improved every OPP
portunity to tell the public SO. Commits
sioner Oberly has replied, and the discus
sion, thus far, seems to be only the begin
ming of misunderstanding that isregretted
by the true friends of civil service reform.
If the two commissioners cannot get
along harmonously and keep their quarrels
out OF the newspapers, the President will
doubtless find it to be his duty to do some
thing in the way Of reform that will not be
pleasant to them. He cannot afford to have
his work in behalf of civil service reform
obstructed by those whose duty it is to ad-
vance it.